38 Studios Licenses BigWorld MMO Engine

Developer-publisher 38 Studios, founded by famed baseball pitcher Curt Schilling, has announced it has entered into an agreement to license the BigWorld Technology Suite for its upcoming PC MMO game. BigWorld Technology Suite is comprised of the BigWorld Server Software, Content Creation Pipeline, 3D Client Engine Package, and Live Management Tools & Instrumentation. BigWorld says it aims to provide a complete MMOG solution designed for companies producing next-generation MMOGs or virtual worlds. BigWorld has specialized in licensing its 3D MMO technology to Asian markets, but has also announced more than one deal with Western firms, including Sierra Online and John Romero's Slipgate Ironworks for unannounced MMOs in progress, and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment for its upcoming MMORPG, Stargate Worlds. 38 Studios president and CEO Brett Close commented, "In our current development phase, 38 Studios is focused on prototyping the exceptional quality of our signature Online Entertainment Experience. This process can only come from tools and technology designed to deliver flexibility, efficiency, performance, and processing power. By licensing the BigWorld Technology Suite, we are empowered as developers to exceed the expectations of gamers, and ultimately achieve cross-media market penetration based on a completely original IP."